Book Review | Diving Catch – Lauren Runow (Tennessee Terrors Series, Book One)

Diving Catch
By: Lauren Runow

Series: Tennessee Terrors
Book # in Series: 1 of 8
Genre: Baseball Romance, Single Mother
Publisher: self-published
Publication Date: April 8th, 2025
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮½
My Reading Format: I received a copy of this book to review honestly.

Synopsis:

Evan

For the past few years, the only consistent thing in my life was getting my haircut every few weeks. Grinding my way through the minor leagues meant spending many days on the road and moving at the drop of a dime. I never cared though. I was living my dream and playing the game I love.

When I finally make it to the show, I should have known my sister was up to something when she found me a hairstylist and even went as far as scheduling my appointments for the next few months.

Christy

I had no clue who would walk through the salon’s door after a woman called to schedule an appointment for her brother. She’d completely left out the fact that he had just moved to Nashville to play for the Tennessee Terrors baseball team as their new rookie left fielder.

Of course I notice the athletically fit, handsome man sitting in my chair, but I swore off dating any of my clients after the last one left me pregnant and alone.

My son is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I love that it’s just the two of us.

When the Terrors have an open batting session inviting families to come watch, catching a ball is the most exciting thing I think will happen, but when the cute guy on the field comes over to talk to my son, I see it’s the same guy who sat in my chair today.

Diving Catch is the first book in a series of books with ten amazing authors about the Tennessee Terrors baseball team. All books have crossover characters but are stand-alone novels and can be read in any order.

Diving Catch is a single-mom, baseball romance that is sure to make your toes curl and put a smile on your face.

honey-script.light

Diving Catch by Lauren Runow is the first book in the Tennessee Terrors Series. If you love series that introduce new authors with each book that is published, this may be the series for you. If you love swoony heroes and baseball, this is DEFINITELY the series for you! There was something about Evan and Christy’s story that had me hooked from the very first page! So let’s dive into this review!

First off, let me tell you a little bit about this novel. First off, it’s told from both Christy and Evan’s point of views and it’s a single mom romance with just a hint of angst. The majority of this novel is sweet, cute, and heartwarming!

Evan is new to town, and new to the Tennessee Terrors baseball team. He’s finally made it to the big league and he’s made it his mission to put his all into his craft. That is until Evan walks into a salon for a haircut his sister scheduled and meets Christy, a single mother he has no business getting involved with. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and Evan’s heart wants to be a part of Christy’s life. Son and all.

Christy never thought she’d find her happily ever after within a client, let alone a major league baseball player. But here she is quickly falling head over heels in love with the charismatic man. After her last relationship left her scorned, humiliated and a single mother, Christy has a wall built around her heart and Evan may just be the person to knock that wall down.

My Thoughts:

What a great way to start a new series! Lauren Runow brought all the feels to Diving Catch, and I was here for it! I have to say, it’s been a long time since I last dove into a novel that was focused on good vibes and less on angst. I felt Christy and Evan’s story was a breath of fresh air! I loved their connection from the very beginning!! Christy needed a man who was understanding and who would let her set the pace to a relationship. Evan was so understanding and did everything he could to make Christy comfortable. But, he also wasn’t afraid to softly tell her where he saw things going! EEK! I loved this man, and I loved reading this relationship. It had my heart fluttering!

Let’s not forget about the adorably hyper little boy in this novel. Nolan! I adored Christy and Nolan’s mother/son relationship. But there was something about Nolan and Evan that spoke to my heart. I loved how the puzzle pieces seemed to fit so perfectly. It was like Evan was meant to be Nolan’s father. He may not be biologically his, but Nolan was meant to be Evan’s son and this concept nearly brought a tear to my eye. I loved it so much!

And then we have the meddling sisters on both sides of the table. I loved the strong family ties this novel had to offer and I loved the meddling sisters!

Now for the reason why I dropped a ½ star rating. I adored every aspect of this novel, but somewhere towards the end, I would have loved to see a relationship blossom more between Nolan and his grandparents.

Overall, I adored this novel and Lauren Runow for writing a great slow build romance. I loved feeling the emotions these characters felt, I loved seeing a friendship bloom between Christy and Evan before turning into something more. I loved the fact that Evan let Christy set the pace in order to make her comfortable in a relationship. And last, but certainly not least, I loved baseball! I loved how Nolan (Christy’s little boy) loved baseball even before they met Evan! And I loved witnessing Evan step into the role of a proud father! Diving Catch by Lauren Runow touched my heart and awakened my soul! I couldn’t get enough of this novel!

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